reef-pi :: An opensource reef tank controller based on Raspberry Pi.

[Ranjib]

A mention of Leviathan by @Schreiber on RB...

Leviathan is the DIY Controller of 2020 | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog

Aquarium Controllers have become much more widely available the last few years even as higher end aquarium gear has become increasingly smart and connected. Although there are certainly a lot more…

reefbuilders.com

That is super duper cool. Congrats @Schreiber

 

[crusso1993]

That is super duper cool. Congrats @Schroeder1968

I believe you tagged the wrong member, buddy.

Sending goid luck with the house inspection!

 

[Ranjib]

I believe you tagged the wrong member, buddy.

Sending goid luck with the house inspection!

Oops. Updated
Home purchase is stressful .. so many documents :-O

 

[Bigtrout]

I had these exact same issues with the temp probes (I have 2 as well - one in the fuge, one in the skimmer section). They would randomly read some large negative value.

Initially I thought as Bigtrout did and started with double checking my connections with some continuity testing, then shortening the cables to minimize the run to the probe. These probes have sheathing, so i also tried grounding the sheathing. None of these things worked.

I've been testing a new temp probe for the last week and it is rock solid, while the old probe is still spiking once or twice a day. Below are the probes - both good and bad.

(Old) Flakey Probe = DROK 2pc -55 to 125 Deg C, -67 to 257 Deg F Indoor Outdoor Water Cooling Heater Temperature Sensor, 3 Meter Waterproof Cable with Stainless Steel Probe This is the orange color cabled temp probes - I actually cut the wire down to 1 meter from PI enclosure to Sump and coated probe in silicone.

(New) Solid Probe = Diymore 5Pcs DS18B20 Length 2M Waterproof Temperature Sensor Thermistor Temperature Controller Thermometer with Probe (2M) - Black probe - again I cut the wire down to 1 meter and did not coat in silicone.

Thats strange. I have 3 of the drok probes...left the cables at 2 meters and they have been rock solid for over a year now. I have 2 of the black wired probes that sit as spares and no problems with those either.
I used to have occasional strage readings but that all went away when I tracked down bad power supplies that fed my Beamswork lights. They caused bad interference on dang near everything. Ph probe, temp probes, cable modem...once I replaced them my build has been troublefree.

 

[Schreiber]

Oops. Updated
Home purchase is stressful .. so many documents :-O

Thanks! And my wife & I are (hopefully) going through all of that end of this year. I'm excited to have more room for aquariums though, lol.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

As a bit of control, I popped in my other SD card with a known working 3.0 and the probes are ticking away like a Swiss watch.

Either 3.1 doesn't like the Drok probes... Which I don't think is the case, or the 3.1 install got corrupted somehow or there is a software conflict.

 

[Bigtrout]

Im on 3.1 with drok probes and no problems.
Maybe wipe that 3.1 instal and start over.

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

Im on 3.1 with drok probes and no problems.
Maybe wipe that 3.1 instal and start over.

Yeah I think something got hosed with the install. Are you using Rasbian or NOOBs as the underlying Linux install?

 

[Bigtrout]

Yeah I think something got hosed with the install. Are you using Rasbian or NOOBs as the underlying Linux install?

I skipped the noobs and did a raspian install. Its a bit more difficult but i think makes a cleaner install.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

This probe from sparkfun has been good to me

DS18B20 Waterproof Temperature Sensor

Description Sealed digital temperature probe Precisely measures temperatures in wet environments Accuracy: ±0.5°C from -10°C to +85°C RoHS compliant The DS18B20 Waterproof Temperature Sensor is a sealed digital temperature probe which lets you precisely measure temperatures in wet environments...

www.robotshop.com

 

[AbjectMaelstroM]

This probe from sparkfun has been good to me

DS18B20 Waterproof Temperature Sensor

Description Sealed digital temperature probe Precisely measures temperatures in wet environments Accuracy: ±0.5°C from -10°C to +85°C RoHS compliant The DS18B20 Waterproof Temperature Sensor is a sealed digital temperature probe which lets you precisely measure temperatures in wet environments...

www.robotshop.com

I've got one of those laying around here somewhere and may try it.

Right now though it seems 3.1 install is the issue as the probes seem to be firing just fine under my old 3.0 install. Going to play around with it this weekend.

 

[raketemensch]

My advice - get your own home inspector don't rely on the an inspection bought and paid for by the seller.

Or the realtor! They also have a vested interest in you buying the home. Try to find one on your own if you can. Angie's List can be expensive, but it's worth it when buying a house.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

What is the calibration process for the pH probe using the blue acro base broad using reef-pi 3.0? Does the calibrate button work yet?

 

[crusso1993]

What is the calibration process for the pH probe using the blue acro base broad using reef-pi 3.0? Does the calibrate button work yet?

Cannot answer your question but it's good to see you here again!

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Cannot answer your question but it's good to see you here again!

Yeah man, life has been super busy. Glad to be plugged back in.

 

[Schreiber]

What is the calibration process for the pH probe using the blue acro base broad using reef-pi 3.0? Does the calibrate button work yet?

I've never used the acro board, but I can confirm the calibration button does work now! No more fiddling in the terminal with raw mV values & editing configuration files. Assuming there are no special steps to using the acro board, you should be good to go.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

I've never used the acro board, but I can confirm the calibration button does work now! No more fiddling in the terminal with raw mV values & editing configuration files. Assuming there are no special steps to using the acro board, you should be good to go.

There was an initial driver issue that was eventually figured out, but I was given a pre-alpha version of 3.0 to test quite some time ago. The calibration method was rather involving from what I remember. If the calibration button works, I'll be giving it a shot shortly. I've had my calibration packets in my sump, warming up for quite some time. I'll post my experience on here.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

I've never used the acro board, but I can confirm the calibration button does work now! No more fiddling in the terminal with raw mV values & editing configuration files. Assuming there are no special steps to using the acro board, you should be good to go.

Also, I'm J Marc Overton on FB, so we've been chatting about your Leviathan board a little bit.

 

[Schreiber]

Also, I'm J Marc Overton on FB, so we've been chatting about your Leviathan board a little bit.

Hey there, yeah! Glad to put another name to a forum handle.

During my pre-launch phase, I had a sign-up page that entered people to win a free Leviathan board. Another Reef2Reef member who's actually already dealt with Reef-Pi won that, had no idea who he was when I drew the name! I'd tag him, but not sure he wants his handle tied to his real name.

I was just glad it went to someone who knew exactly what they were getting & how helpful it would be, rather than someone who just signed up for something they had no clue about because it might be free, lol.

 

[DirtDiggler2823]

Hey there, yeah! Glad to put another name to a forum handle.

During my pre-launch phase, I had a sign-up page that entered people to win a free Leviathan board. Another Reef2Reef member who's actually already dealt with Reef-Pi won that, had no idea who he was when I drew the name! I'd tag him, but not sure he wants his handle tied to his real name.

I was just glad it went to someone who knew exactly what they were getting & how helpful it would be, rather than someone who just signed up for something they had no clue about because it might be free, lol.

Reef-Pi has a lot of folks using it at various levels. There are quite a few project builds in R2R, including my own. I would leverage your leviathan board the same way I leveraged the pico-board I have, and I'd probably use a Pi3B+ as the brain for the USB ports for possibly expanded functionality. I wish I had known about your project earlier though, but hey, you've got my support, or you will, probably tomorrow. LOL